Search for seasonal work begins

Park City Job Fair to help local businesses find workers

Alexandria Gonzalez, The Park Record

Posted:
10/04/2013 04:41:57 PM MDT

The Park City Chamber/Bureau, in collaboration with the Utah Department of Workforce Solutions, will host the Annual Park City Job Fair at the Marriott Hotel at 1895 Sidewinder Dr. on Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 4 to 8 p.m.

The first snow has fallen in Park City, which means it is time for the search for seasonal work to begin. Seasonal workers begin arriving, starting now up until even the first day of the new year, according to Scott Loomis, Executive Director of the Mountainlands Community Housing Trust.

In preparation for the influx of job-seekers, the Park City Chamber/Bureau, in partnership with the Utah Department of Workforce Solutions, will host its Annual Park City Job Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Over 20 different businesses in the hospitality, restaurant and transportation industry will be in attendance and looking to interview potential employees on-site.

Erin O'Keefe, Membership Services Coordinator with the Chamber/Bureau, said that not all employers will be hiring right away since some of the employees will not be able to start work until the ski resorts open for the winter season. However, other businesses will need employees right away.

O'Keefe said the Job Fair is open to the public and that everyone looking for work is welcome.

"We'll have many different vendors but most are in the hospitality industry," O'Keefe said. "A lot of positions will be seasonal, but there will also be career-based jobs available."

The Chamber/Bureau expects a sizable turn-out which fluctuates year-to-year depending on the economy, O'Keefe said.

Advertisement

The jobs available also vary depending on the business hiring, but if it is a resort, most of the time they are in need of "lift operators, ski instructors and waiters," among other hospitality-oriented jobs.

According to O'Keefe, a translator will be at the job fair if needed, and a copy machine will be available for those who need to make copies of their résumés. She said professional attire, such as slacks, button-down shirts, business skirts, and clean hairstyles, are recommended.

Seasonal housing representatives will not be in attendance at the Job Fair, Loomis said that his organization works with the Christian Center of Park City to find housing for those who need it.

Mountainlands and the Christian Center collaborate to host the "Roommate Round-Up," which will be held every Wednesday evening at the Christian Center, located at 1283 Deer Valley Dr., from Nov. 13 until Dec. 18 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

At the events, seasonal workers can enjoy snacks and warm beverages while looking for a place to live, meeting those who are renting out units or rooms in their houses.

"It's an opportunity for everybody to get together and feel each other out, see if they would be compatible roommates, compatible tenants or if it's a place they would like to live," Loomis said.

He said that one of the issues seasonal workers have been facing recently is that a lot of them are coming later in the year because of the shorter work visas. When they arrive after the first day of December, there is not a lot of inventory available for them.

According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, the H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker Visa is "for temporary or season non-agricultural work and limited to citizens or nationals of designated countries, with limited exceptions, if determined to be in the United States interest."

Loomis said that in speaking with the resorts, there are not as many visa employees as they have had in the past, but they never really know until seasonal workers start getting here what the situation is going to be.

According to both of their official websites, Park City Mountain Resort has 30 jobs available while Deer Valley Resort has 85 jobs available. Both resorts will be at the Job Fair looking for employees.

"It is pretty much like it has been every year," Loomis said. "It is always a struggle, but everyone finds a way."

For more information on temporary housing or to post a unit or room for rent, visit www.housinghelp.org, call the Mountainlands Community Housing Trust at 435-647-9719, or call the Christian Center of Park City at 435-649-2260.